Zero Carbon Britain

[Billhook]

Kenneal - re the 'economic demise' of Cat, what happened ? I had one of their students living here at weekends and commuting over the mountains and the whole tuition program seemed to be going well.

What was it pulled the plug ?

Regards,

Lewis

[biffvernon]

re-conceptualising the difference between commitments that will be met, targets that can be met, aspirations that may be met and dreams that are unlikely to be met but which point us in the right direction.

(Net) Zero Carbon Britain is not just a target that can be met, aspiration that may be met or dream that is unlikely to be met, but a reality that will definitely happen.

The trick is to make it happen before humanity becomes extinct.

CAT's work is part of the solution rather than part of the problem so should be welcomed into the conversation, rather than rubbished because is has flaws.

[emordnilap]

while all of us nutty scientizts know that reaching absolute zero itself is a physical imposibility

Don't worry, because if you did, you would be 0K.

Where's me coat?

[kenneal - lagger]

Kenneal - re the 'economic demise' of Cat, what happened ? I had one of their students living here at weekends and commuting over the mountains and the whole tuition program seemed to be going well.

What was it pulled the plug ?

Regards,

Lewis

I'm not sure of the exact circumstances but the operating arm of CAT has gone bust although the CAT charity and education side is still OK. I think it was building the WISE Building that did for them. They seem to have loaded all the debt onto the operating side (if that is what it is called) and let that go. There is talk that the site will be taken over by one of the Welsh unis and run as a campus to teach all the disciplines a "Sustainability" module. Perhaps not economic sustainability though!!

[featherstick]

while all of us nutty scientizts know that reaching absolute zero itself is a physical imposibility

Don't worry, because if you did, you would be 0K.

Where's me coat?

The best pun ever. Hat-tip, no, I'm going to up-end a whole milliner's shop. You may retire.

[kenneal - lagger]

I had to think about that for a while but, yes, very good!

[mikepepler]

I'm not sure of the exact circumstances but the operating arm of CAT has gone bust although the CAT charity and education side is still OK. I think it was building the WISE Building that did for them. They seem to have loaded all the debt onto the operating side (if that is what it is called) and let that go. There is talk that the site will be taken over by one of the Welsh unis and run as a campus to teach all the disciplines a "Sustainability" module. Perhaps not economic sustainability though!!

Yes, from what I know the problem was that the developer of the WISE building went bust, and left them with all kinds of problems and a huge bill. Combine that with the ongoing economic problems which must surely have some impact on visitor and student numbers.

I went to the launch of the new ZCB report in Westminster on Tue, was a good event with lots of people packed into a small room. They see the report as a starting point for discussion, not a set of directions on how to proceed, so I'm sure they would welcome some input from Bill Hook!

[emordnilap]

I'm going to up-end a whole milliner's shop.

Who wants to be a milliner? I don't.

[woodburner]

(Net) Zero Carbon Britain is not just a target that can be met, aspiration that may be met or dream that is unlikely to be met, but a reality that will definitely happen.

The trick is to make it happen before humanity becomes extinct.

IMO it's a fantasy, and will be met only when the population is near extinction level.

If you consider otherwise, please explain where the power currently supplied from fossil fuels will come from.

[clv101]

If you consider otherwise, please explain where the power currently supplied from fossil fuels will come from.

That's not the right question. The question is how will we adapt to do without much of the power supplied from fossil fuels.

[kenneal - lagger]

.......... Combine that with the ongoing economic problems which must surely have some impact on visitor and student numbers.

Student numbers on the Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies (AEES) MSc have gone from two intakes a year with well over a hundred students to two intakes of around twenty, twenty five. I don't think that any of the original tutors, who made the course the great success that it was, are still there and tutor numbers have dropped drastically as well. Fewer numbers of students and tutors make for much less variety of learning and experience.

There are also many fewer mature students, some of whom provided part of the learning experience by imparting their knowledge to the younger folk. In my intake of eighty there were at least half a dozen students with more industry experience than any of the tutors. That is a huge resource for a course like that.

They are also running a Renewable Energy in the Built Environment (REBE) MSC and a Part 2 Architect's course as well but I'm not sure of the numbers on those courses. A drop in numbers of that magnitude and spreading the numbers available over three courses is bound to have a major effect on profits.

[clv101]

The WISE building contractor going bust was a major blow, they now have large debt/mortgage. I think the changes to higher education funding and tightened rules about student immigration have also had an impact.

The visitor centre isn't nearly as exciting these days as solar panels, insulation, wind power, recycling etc... all progressive, cutting edge stuff 20 years ago is now mainstream. In a way CAT have succeeded, the alternative technology they've been promoting for the last 30 years, is no longer alternative! The real challenge for an organisation like CAT is to evolve, find the new cutting edge.

[kenneal - lagger]

..........The real challenge for an organisation like CAT is to evolve, find the new cutting edge.

Zero Carbon Britain?

[emordnilap]

Monbiot did a pretty impressive analysis in Heat.

[Billhook]

Kenneal - thanks for the response to my asking about CAT. Sorry to hear of this - particularly of the loss of all the original tutors.

Re finding a new cutting edge, "Zero Fossil Fuel Britain ASAP" doesn't have the same brevity, but it is at least accurate and includes uranium.

Regards,

Lewis